Tray mechanism



M. M. HAMMOND.

TRAY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31. I918. RENEWED FEB. 13, 1920.

1 8 5 1 20-9 Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Mam/um JE ffF/ UNETED STATES MARY M. HAMMOND, KANSAS CITY, MISSGURI.

TRAY MECHANISM.

Original application filed February 14, 1916, Serial No. 78,283.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1226.

Divided and this application filed October 31, 1918, Serial No. 260,530.Renewed. February 13, 192-0. Serial No. 358,403.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARY M. HAMMOND, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Tray llflechanisms, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in tray mechanisms.

It relates particularly to the type of tray mechanisms in which one trayis pivotally connected with another tray so as to be swung from theposition mounted thereon to a horizontal position at one side thereof.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide novel means by whichthe joint be tween the trays may be made dust and water proof, when thetrays are in the superposed position and are subjected to inclement ordusty weather, and which holds the trays from lateral shiftingrelatively to each other, when they are in the superposed position,thereby eliminating strain on the hinge mechanism which connects thetrays.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

This application is a division of an ap-- plication filed by me February1%, 1916, having Serial Number 78,283.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred embodimentof my invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away of my improved traymechanism, the upper tray being shown in the horizontal side position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, showing the upper trayswung partly to the horizontal side position and the cover in the openposition.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the diiferentviews.

1, 2 and 3 designate respectively the lowermost, intermediate anduppermost trays.

Each tray is connected at its ends with the ends of the adjacent tray byparallel links 4, each pair having its ends pivoted to the adjacent endsof the trays which it connects in a manner such that the trays may beswung from positions superposed one above the other to horizontalupright positions at one side of the superposed positron, as shown inFig.1.

The upper edge of each tray is provided, preferably, with a continuousflange 5, which extends all around the upper edge of the tray at theinner side thereof, and which is adapted to fit in the lower side of thetray next above, when the trays are in the super posed position, so asto hold the trays from shifting laterally relatively to each other, andalso to prevent access of dirt or 1nois-- ture at the joint between thetrays, when the trays are exposed to inclement or dusty weather. Theflanges 5 are sutliciently shallow to permit the trays to freely swingto and from the superposed position, and the upper edge of each tray, atthe outer side of the flange is shouldered so as to support the traynext above, with respect to the trays 1 and 2, and to support a cover 6,with respect to the tray 3, to which the cover 6 is hinged at onelongitudinal edge, preferably by means of two flexible strips ofleather, canvas or other suitable material, dosignated by 7 and 8 andsecured respectively to the inner and outer sides of the tray 3 andcover 6, as is best shown in Fig. 2.

Each tray has a stationary bottom 9 disposed above the lower edge of thetray for the purpose of carrying the article to be displayed high in thetrays so that they may be more efficiently presented to view, and in thecase of the trays 2 and 3 to permit the entrance of the flanges 5 of thetrays next below.

The tray 1 may be provided with a removable bottom 10, which rests upontwo inwardly extending flanges 11 of two upwardlyextending plates 12,each having an outwardly turned flange 13, adapted. to rest upon theflange 5, as shown in Figs. 2 and The flanges 11 may be rigidly securedto the removable bottom 10, if desired. The length of the bottom 10 issuch that the plates 1.2 will be held firmly against the innor walls ofthe tray 1, thereby retaining the plates 12 securely in their proper'posi tion.

lVith the parts assembled as above de scribed, the trays 2 and 3 may beswung i from the superposed position above the tray 1 to the uprighthorizontal side position occupied by tray 3 ln'Fig. 1. When the traysare swung to the superposed position, the flanges 5 will seal the traysso as to exclude dust and moisture, and will hold the trays from lateralshifting, thus eliminating strain on the links 4L and their pivots dueto such shifting.

I do not 'limit'my invention to the structure shown and described, asmodifications,

within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departingfrom the spirit oi my invention.

1. In a tray mechanism, two trays adapted to be superposed one upon theother, the lower tray having at its upper edge a continuous flangedportion'extench 'ing all around said upper edge, the upper tray havingside walls-which embrace said gllanged portion its full length when thearound its'upper edge a continuous flanged portion, the upper trayhaving a raised bottom and side walls which embrace said flanged portionits full length, when the trays are superposed one above the other, theflanged portion holding the upper tray against lateral shiftingrelatively to the lower tray, a removable bottom fitted'in the lowertray, and two plates supporting said removable bottom and having each anoutwardly extending flange supporter:- upon said flanged portion. i

' 3. In a tray mechanism, two trays adapted to be superposed one upon.the other, the lower tray saving extending all around its upper edge aContinuous flanged portion, the upper tray having side walls whichembrace said flanged portion its full length, two plates, each having anoutwardly extending flange resting upon said flanged portion and havingeach an in wardly extending flange, and a removable bottom supportedupon said inwardly err tending flanges and adapted to hold said platestightly against the inner walls of said lower tray;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MARY M. HAMMOND.

